Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-08-19
Senator RidIGbGpgGr in Jail
FOR ALLEGED CONTEMPT OF COURT.
Rescued Therefrom, but Voluntarily
Returns. Feeling Among the Peo-
pie Generally. Judge Newman Be-
verely Centured. The Senator now
at His Home on Account of Sick
ness, and Under Suspension of His
Sentence.


Last Friday Senator Riddeberger was
sent to jail for alleged contempt OF the
county court, over which Judge Newman
presided, and who is bitter personal ana
political enemy of the Senator The term
was fixed at FIVE days, with an additional
term of five days added because the Judge
claimed that the Senator resisted the
Sheriff when he attempted to execute the
order Of the Court, which is not correct,
as the Sheriff and his deputies will testify
to at any time, and have so stated repeat
eddy since the arrest. Rlddleberger
went quietly with the Sheriff to jail ac-
companied by a large crowd of friends,
who were greatly excited and indignant
at the action Of Judge Newman, and in
sisted that he should not 20 into the jail;
but the Senator, in order to have no dis
turbance of the peace and no roting, IN
sisted and pleaded with his friends, saying
il was his duty as a law abiding citizen to
conform to the decision Of the court, and
he quietly and smilingly entered the jan,
from which by his eloquence and skill as
n lawyer he has saved so many. Notwith-
standing his earnest appeals, his friends
were not satisfied and about II o'clock
that night the Jail was entered and he
was rescued therefrom. The Senator re-
fused to 90, but his friends were positive
and very determined and took him ont
against his wishes and his earnest pro-
test. The officers Of the law made no at
tempt 10 re-arrest him and he remained at
home until Monday morning.
After spending Sunday with his family
the Senator voluntarily came from his
home and appeared at the door of the jail
and surrendered himself to the jailer. Tie
remained in Jail awaiting the return of the
Judge, who, IN very short time after
sending him to Jail, adjourned court I'M
ill Monday morning, and left for Seven
Fountains, a Summer resort in the noun
tains about eight miles from Woodstock,
before the Senator, his attorney or friends
could take any action in tue matter For
this ne has been severely censured even
by his friends, as it was an unheard OF
proceeding by a Virginia Judge no law
yer having remained in prison before for
contempt of court more than few hours,
as il was never understood to be pun
ishment but was done simply to uphold
the dignity of the court and the law.
Some two years ago Senator Rlddleberger
denounced Judge Newman in an editorial
in the Shenandoah HERALD as a liar and
poltroon. or words to that effect. This
was never resented, and Is now made the
subject of bitter reflection by many per
sons. Judge Newman, though on the
bench, is a bitter and unrelenting partizan.
Judge Allen. the present United States
district attorney made motion Monday
before Judge Newman to remit the ludg-
ment of the Court Robert J. Walker,
ex-commonwealt attorney, heartily con-
Cured. Other members of the bar recon-
mended to Judge Newman that Senator
Riddleberger be- released, one being
Democrat saying that the good citizens OF
Shenandoah County demanded his re-
lease This Judge Newman refused to do,
and the Senator, who was not party to
this application in any way, it being the
spontaneous action of nearly all the al
torneys at this bar, remained in jail until
Tuesday evening at o'clock, when he
/ left for home on account of his sickness
and intense sufforings from hemorrhoids
with which he has long been afflicted.
His suffering from this cause has been
acute and constant ever since his i'm
prisonment, and ny Tuesday evening his
condition became such that it was neces-
sary for him TO be at home with his family
and under the active tire atment of his
physicians. The Judge upon being in
formed of this suspended his sentence I'M
til such time as physician appointed by
/ the court shall certify that he is in a con-
dition to serve out the rest OF bis sentence.
Both parties have their partizans is this
affair, but the general impression among
the people, as evidenced by conversations
with persons from almost every section of
the county, Is that the court proceeded
with unnecessary severity and through
anger acted more to crafty personal
feelings than t0uphold the dignity of the
court.